The family of a passionate Co Down fundraiser have raised thousands in her memory for the Ulster Hospital.
Geraldine Gordon passed away on August 17 this year breaking the hearts of her family and friends who have described her as a "kind and caring woman who would do anything to help someone in need".
A popular woman in her Downpatrick community, she was known for having time for everyone that she met and her passion for fundraising, as she would always lend a hand to support any worthwhile cause and was known to her family as the 'Tombola Queen'.
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Her family told Belfast Live that they were devastated following her passing from a bleed on the brain and wanted to do something to honour her memory and organised a special event to raise funds for the Ulster Hospital Intensive Care Unit, who looked after Geraldine in her final days.
Her daughter Kiera said: "In August we were devastated when our mum suddenly became very unwell and passed away in hospital a couple of days later. We had been texting her hours beforehand and we are still struggling to come to terms with her loss.
"She was very well known in our community here in Downpatrick as someone who would always stop and say hello, and she had so much time for everyone that she met and would do anything to help someone in need.
"Mum was always very passionate about her fundraising and over the years she must have raised thousands helping people and supporting different causes and was well known for her tombolas and bingo nights which were always very popular.
"Following her loss we felt that we needed to do something to honour her memory and all that she has done for others and decided that we would do a fundraiser of our own to give back to the intensive care unit at the Ulster Hospital who looked after her so well in her final days.
"At first we had just planned to do a tombola and a bingo event at the Owenbeg Bowling Club, but things quickly escalated due to the amount of donations we received from people and businesses across Northern Ireland.
"In the end we had a wonderful fundraising night that was a complete sellout with so many people coming together in memory of mum and helping us do what she did best."
The fundraising night on October 28th proved to be a huge success, with the family raising over £6,000 for the intensive care unit at the Ulster Hospital.
Kiera continued: "We would just like to thank everyone who has helped the fundraiser and made a donation.
"You could tell just how much mum meant to so many people by the support we have received and the kind messages that people have sent us.
"She was such a kind and caring person and we hope that we are able to continue her legacy of helping others."
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